Bookstore stands as campus 'gateway'

April 23, 2006|LISA KOCHANOWSKI Tribune Correspondent

NOTRE DAME A cup of coffee, a good book and friendly conversation. ... That is the successful formula they have created at The Bookstore Café located inside the Hammes Bookstore on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. "It's a place where people can mingle," said Kristi Doyle, operations manager for Café de Grasta. "The function is just a big complement to the campus." Doyle said so often people within the community do not realize that the campus restaurants and shops are open to them and shy away from visiting campus, and that is incorrect. The community is welcome at the various restaurants and places on campus, and The Bookstore Café has helped break the ice when newcomers enter the campus. Everyone enjoys a good cup of coffee and loves having the chance to learn more about the campus from students and other faculty who spend their mornings or afternoons at the café. "It's like the gateway to the whole campus," said Doyle. "It's a real focal point for the campus." The staff is very knowledgeable about campus and visitors, for example directing them to where they can get directions to places they want to visit on campus. Visitors also enjoy the delicious sandwiches, pastries and coffee beverages they can purchase while visiting the café, which has both indoor and outdoor dining. One of the most popular items at the café is the giant Notre Dame cookies that people love to eat while visiting or take home to share with friends and family. Alumni often visit the café to meet current students and find out how life on campus has changed since their stay. "It's very reminiscent when you have a lot of alumni coming in and talking to students," said Doyle. "It's more of a mingling place and gathering area." The Bookstore Café keeps the same hours as the bookstores with exceptions during special weekends and events. They can accommodate over thirty people inside the café setting, and there is outdoor seating and places for people to sit around the bookstore. During the summer, when the university holds summer camps for children of all ages from all over the United States, the café finds they sell a lot of fusion drinks, which are ice-blended fruit drinks. The students can get a cool drink and something to eat and browse the bookstore either before or after their camp. Doyle hopes that people find the café an inviting place that makes the campus less intimidating. "I hope they feel comfortable to visit the campus on a regular basis," said Doyle. "We want to take the intimidation out of visiting the University."